Back in Pinstripes: Cody Bellinger Agrees to 5-Year Deal to Return to the Yankees

Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP, is coming off a season with 29 home runs and 98 RBI in his first season in New York.

Cody Bellinger of the Yankees runs to second base against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium in New York on Sept. 7, 2025. Kent J. Edwards/Getty Images

Cody Bellinger, one of the prized players available in MLB free agency, has agreed to return to the New York Yankees, per MLB.com.

Bellinger is signing a five-year, $162.5 million contract that contains a full no-trade clause and opt-outs after the 2027 and 2028 seasons, meaning he will be with the Yankees for at least the next two years.

Bellinger’s re-signing marks a bit of a departure for the 2026 MLB free agent class, as many of the big names decided to take their talents elsewhere. Pete Alonso left the Mets for Baltimore. Alex Bregman left Boston for the Chicago Cubs. Kyle Tucker left the Cubs for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and just this week, Bo Bichette departed Toronto for the New York Mets.

The Yankees are certainly ecstatic about welcoming Bellinger back—he was one of their best players last season. His 5.1 wins above replacement (WAR) were the second-most of his nine-year career as he hit 29 home runs with 98 RBI. Bellinger’s slash line was .272/.334/.480 while also providing great defensive value with his versatility.

Bellinger’s main position was left field, where he played 85 games, but he also saw action in at least 40 games in both center field and right field. Additionally, he’s played 350 games at first base over his career, and that flexibility allows New York to get its best players into the lineup, regardless of position.

The contract has an average annual value of $32.5 million, a sizeable raise for Bellinger, who made $27.5 million with New York last season and had a $25 million player option for 2026 that he chose not to exercise.

Shortly after the Yankees’ season ended with an ALDS loss to Toronto, the team’s general manager, Brian Cashman, was asked by the media if he viewed retaining Bellinger as the team’s top priority.

“We’re very interested in bringing him back,” replied Cashman. “He was a terrific addition for us last year, playing a big role in the amount of success we ended up having, and we would certainly love to have him come back to us. We’d be better served if we could retain him.”

Bellinger was one of the pillars of a Yankees squad that led all of baseball in a number of offensive categories. New York topped MLB in home runs (274), runs scored (849), RBI (820), total bases (2,488), and OPS (.787). Of course, MVP winner Aaron Judge played the biggest role in that production, but Bellinger is also an MVP winner, courtesy of his 2019 National League award while with the Dodgers.

Along with Judge, who has three MVP trophies to his name, and Bellinger, the Yankees had two other MVPs in their lineup. Giancarlo Stanton won the 2017 NL award with the Miami Marlins, and Paul Goldschmidt claimed the 2022 NL award while with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Yankees will have the services of Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton for at least two more years, while Goldschmidt is a free agent.

Bellinger will enter the 2026 season as a nine-year veteran who has 225 home runs, 695 RBI, and 104 stolen bases. He’s a career .261 hitter, has made two All-Star Games, is a two-time Silver Slugger, owns a Gold Glove award, and was the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year. By staying in New York, he’s avoiding going to a third team in three years—2024 saw him playing for the Chicago Cubs. That was his second year in The Windy City after starting his big league career with six seasons as a Dodger. He was originally drafted out of high school by the Los Angeles in 2013, going in the fourth round.

There may be another incentive for Bellinger to remain in pinstripes: His father, Clay Bellinger, played for the Yankees for three seasons. The elder Bellinger picked up World Series rings in 1999 and 2000 and was a New York native, being born in Oneonta, N.Y., which just happens to be in the same county as Cooperstown, the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Bellinger becomes the fifth player to re-sign with the Yankees this offseason. He joins pitchers Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn, outfielder Trent Grisham, and utility man Amed Rosario. Through free agency, New York also added infielder Paul DeJong, formerly of the Washington Nationals.

However, the Yankees have also lost some players, including a pair of arms across town. Relievers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver joined the Mets as free agents. The team also lost pitchers Mark Leiter Jr. (Athletics), Ian Hamilton (Braves), and Scott Effross (Tigers). Among those Yankees on the 2025 roster who remain unsigned are Goldschmidt, infielder DJ LeMahieu, and pitcher Marcus Stroman.